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Behavior Support Specialist

Black Hills Works
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Behavior Support Specialist

About This Role

Join our mission-driven organization as a Behavior Support Specialist, where you'll champion evidence-based, person-centered approaches to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health needs. This specialist role focuses on building organizational capacity through coaching, mentoring, and training staff teams while providing expert consultation on complex behavioral support needs.

What Makes This Role Unique

This is not a traditional direct service position. You will function as an internal consultant, coach, and capacity builder, working side-by-side with teams to model best practices, develop staff competency, and create sustainable systems of support. Your expertise will directly impact both participant outcomes and staff confidence across the organization.

Schedule: Flexible schedule required, including occasional evenings, weekends, and on-call response for behavioral crises

Travel: Regular travel to community sites, residential homes, and program locations across service area

Physical Requirements:

  • Ability to physically support participants during crises when necessary (e.g., assist with safe positioning, guide to calm space)
  • Ability to lift, push, or pull up to 50 lbs during emergency situations
  • Ability to safely operate wheelchairs and mechanical lifts
  • Stamina for extended periods of observation and side-by-side coaching in various environments

Education & Credentials

Master's degree or Doctorate required in one or more of the following fields:

  • Doctorate in Psychology
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Social Work
  • Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Special Education
  • Counseling
  • Related behavioral health field

Active professional certification/licensure in one or more of the following:

  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
  • Occupational Therapist, Registered & Licensed (OTR/L)
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or equivalent
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) with pathway to BCBA
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder certification (e.g., IBCCES, national certification)

Experience Requirements

  • Minimum 3-5 years supporting individuals with IDD and/or mental health disabilities in community, residential, or clinical settings
  • Demonstrated experience coaching, training, or mentoring direct support staff
  • Experience developing and implementing positive behavior support plans
  • Background in functional assessment methodologies (FBA, ABC analysis, functional analysis)
  • Experience working with interdisciplinary teams

Preferred Qualifications

  • Sensory Processing assessment and intervention training (e.g., Sensory Integration)
  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training or coursework
  • Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI/Safety Care) or equivalent de-escalation certification
  • Training in trauma-informed care and positive behavior support
  • Experience with functional behavior assessment and skill-based treatment models
  • Knowledge of psychotropic medications and behavioral side effects

Essential Competencies & Skills

Clinical & Behavioral Expertise

  • Proficiency in conducting functional behavior assessments and developing function-based interventions
  • Ability to interpret psychological evaluations, psychiatric reports, and adaptive assessments
  • Strong understanding of antecedent-based strategies, replacement skill teaching, and reinforcement systems
  • Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and understanding how trauma manifests in behavior
  • Competence in assessing sensory processing needs and integrating sensory supports into daily routines
  • Understanding of autism spectrum characteristics and evidence-based autism interventions

Coaching & Capacity Building

  • Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills with diverse staff teams
  • Ability to provide constructive feedback, model interventions, and facilitate reflective practice
  • Strong group facilitation skills for training and team consultation
  • Skill in translating complex behavioral concepts into practical, accessible language
  • Comfort with side-by-side coaching, observation, and real-time feedback

Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking

  • Systems-thinking approach to analyzing behavioral patterns and team dynamics
  • Creative problem-solving to address barriers to implementation
  • Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources (medical, behavioral, environmental)
  • Experience in data collection and analysis
  • Data-driven decision-making and continuous quality improvement mindset

Personal Qualities

  • Empathetic and person-centered in approach
  • Culturally responsive and committed to dignity and respect for all individuals
  • Resilient, self-aware, and open to feedback
  • Committed to continuous learning and professional development
  • Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and emergency situations

Core Responsibilities

1. Staff Coaching & Capacity Building (55%)

  • Respond to behavioral-focused General Incident Reports (GERs) with recommendations, strategies, and positive reinforcements
  • Provide side-by-side coaching to direct support staff in implementing behavioral strategies and positive support techniques
  • Model evidence-based interventions in real-time, including de-escalation, skill teaching, and environmental modifications
  • Observe staff-participant interactions and provide immediate, constructive feedback
  • Facilitate team meetings to review behavioral data, problem-solve challenges, and adjust strategies
  • Deliver training sessions on topics including functional communication training, sensory regulation, trauma-informed care, and proactive support strategies
  • Develop training materials, visual supports, and staff resources to enhance competency
  • Mentor teams in collecting behavioral data and using data to inform decision-making
  • Build organizational capacity by empowering teams to independently implement and troubleshoot behavioral supports
  • Build behavior support information and knowledge within leadership teams

2. Behavioral Assessment & Plan Development (25%)

  • Conduct comprehensive functional behavior assessments using direct observation, ABC data analysis, and interviews with staff and families
  • Interpret psychological evaluations, psychiatric reports, and case histories to inform support planning
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (including psychiatry, nursing, OT, case management) to develop individualized positive behavior support plans
  • Ensure all behavior support plans align with HRE principles: prioritizing skill development, rapport-building, and creating conditions for individuals to be happy, relaxed, and engaged
  • Integrate sensory processing strategies, communication supports, and environmental modifications into comprehensive support plans
  • Review and revise support plans quarterly based on data analysis and team input
  • Facilitate person-centered planning processes that center participant voice and choice

3. Crisis Response & Emergency Consultation (10%)

  • Respond to behavioral crises as available, implementing de-escalation and crisis intervention strategies
  • Provide real-time consultation to staff teams managing challenging situations
  • Coordinate with other organizational resources when unable to respond directly
  • Conduct post-incident debriefing within 24 hours of critical incidents, analyzing antecedents and identifying prevention strategies
  • Document all crisis responses and ensure learning opportunities are captured for system improvement

4. Collaboration & Communication (5%)

  • Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, psychiatric consultations, and clinical reviews
  • Provide input in medication reviews to provide behavioral context and monitor medication effects on behavior
  • Collaborate with families, guardians, and external providers to ensure coordinated support
  • Document plan updates, assessment findings, and consultation notes in a timely manner (within 48 hours)
  • Facilitate extraordinary funding requests and identify staffing or resource needs to support participants
  • Share knowledge and updates across departments to promote organizational learning

5. Program Monitoring & Continuous Improvement (5%)

  • Propose system changes based on patterns, outcomes, or staff input
  • Participate in agency committees, quality improvement initiatives, and strategic planning
  • Engage in continuous professional development through conferences, webinars, and peer consultation
  • Stay current on evidence-based practices and emerging research in behavioral health and IDD support

 

Black Hills Works, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.